Michael Vick smiling as he leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New York Giants, in Philadelphia. Credit Associated Press

NFL jersey sales tell the true story of who football fans really root for. If paying money to wear someone’s name on your back isn’t the best sign of commitment, I don’t know what is.

According to NFL spokesperson Joanna Hunter, Michael Vick’s No. 7 Philadelphia Eagles jersey is expected to break into the top 25 jersey sales by the end of this month. New data will be made available at the end of this week, Hunter said.

Michael Vick has obviously been having a tremendous season, but are fans warming up to him enough to purchase his jersey?

The images of Michael Vick and Tim Tebow live on completely different islands. And while Americans love winners, it makes you wonder if Vick will ever be fully accepted by fans again for his past off field indiscretions.

“What kind of parents sanction these “it’s time to move on” jersey purchases? I hope I hear from them. I’m tired of hearing their rationalizations about what the Bible says, or it’s racial, or he’s no worse that most pro athletes who do drugs, assault women or get caught in other crimes.

Shouldn’t parents focus on raising standards for their children’s role models? Vick has made commendable progress, but there’s more time left in the game before we should declare victory on the rehabilitation-and-redemption journey.”

Personally, I wouldn’t buy Michael Vick’s jersey. I also wouldn’t buy a Tim Tebow jersey or Drew Brees jersey. A friend of mine once told me the only jerseys he allows his children to wear are their own. His philosophy is you don’t really know the private character of public people so why promote the identity of someone you don’t know anyway.

Comments

“NFL jersey sales tell the true story of who football fans really root for.”
.
Incorrect. A player’s tenure in the league or with his team probably effects jersey sales more than just popularity. For instance, Peyton Manning is undoubtedly more popular than Tim Tebow, but his market has nearly reached saturation whereas before April, Timmy’s fresh and untapped. The same applies to guys like Tom Brady, Ray Lewis, Tony Romo, and Drew Brees.

Parents should be their kids’ role model. Why leave it up to another human being? Mike Vick is a human being just like everybody else. I think he should be forgiven because he has been forgiven by the one that really counts, God! I have his jersey and I wear it proudly. Anyone that doesn’t forgive him is a hypocrite because I’m sure you will say that you trust and love God which is a lie if you can’t forgive your brother here on earth with you and profess to love someone you’ve never seen and never will see if you don’t straighten it out.